Raipur, Feb 20 : The Chhattisgarh government today informed the state assembly that the Maoists had committed 396 crimes in the state in the last two years.

Claiming that the law and order situation was under control in the state, Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam told the house during the Question Hour that the Maoists had committed 182 murders, 176 dacoities, 23 loots, five cases of assault and ten kidnapping cases from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2005.

Replying to questions of Motilal Devangan and Mahant Ram Sunder Das of Congress, he said at present 56 blocks spread over 12 districts, including four police districts, are infested by Naxalite menace in the state and all steps are being taken to curb ultras’ movement.

Replying to a question of Dharamjeet Singh of Congress, Netam said since January 1, 2005 to January 27, 2006 there were 1081 cases of murders, 1059 cases of rapes, 220 cases of dacoity, 263 cases of abduction, 6094 cases of theft were registered in the state.

Similarly, 2062 cases were registered in 2003-2004 for atrocities against SC, ST and OBC. On 2004-2005 it was 2885 cases and in 2005-2006 a total of 2245 cases have been registered in the state, he added.